Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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509. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year expenditure on the household benefits package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14729/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Household Benefits Package is made up of a choice of either Electricity or Gas Allowance, and Free Television Licence.  These allowances provide a contribution towards electricity or gas, as well as the cost of the annual Television Licence.  Only one household package is paid per household, subject to household composition.  Household Benefits Package may be funded from either the Vote or the Fund, depending on the origin of the primary scheme entitlement of the recipient [e.g. State Pension (Non-Contributory from the Vote) or State Pension (Contributory from the Fund)].

The estimated cost for the Household Benefits package in 2019 is €248m of which the Vote element is €89.9m and the Fund element €158.1m.

The 2019 full-year cost as per the published 2019 Revised Estimates are detailed in the following table: